ARMAGEDDON World Premiere review

Well, it was at a dead time in the morning when I left my home to fly halfway across this country to see ARMAGEDDON at it's world premiere. I didn't wake up yesterday morning, ya see, I hadn't slept at all. The site had been down due to a power failure over the weekend and I wanted to get an update up, so I typed the night away. At 0430 c.s.t. I went in for a cold shower to wake my ass up and get organized, I had a long day in front of me.

The mission that Mr Phelps presented for my acceptance was to travel to Orlando, attend the World Premiere of ARMAGEDDON and get a review up that night. Of course this would mean some 48 hours without sleep, which is probably going to mean you are all in for some fairly scattershot writing. (Like that's any different from the previous days).

Just 36 hours ago I didn't know where I was staying, what Hotel I was going to. A must have Fed Ex package hadn't arrived, so I was left early Sunday morning using my investigative abilities to track down the hotel. Using a variety of internet and telephoned sources I was able to trackdown the hotel with little to no problem. Soon after accomplishing this I received a call from Michael Bay's people confirming the information I had dug up. Problems like this I love. You see, the fact I didn't know, and within an hour I had figured it out... well it proved that the ol noggin was working in some sort of clockwork way.

Dad and I take our one bag a piece and hop in a yellow cab leaving my house at 0500 c.s.t. A godawful time when the clouds in the sky have that unearthly glow of non-line-of-sight solar rays. If I were in a Bruckheimer film, I'd be a military fella throwing his bags out of a transport bus, this dirty sky was a perfect backdrop to begin the journey.

An $8 cab ride later Dad and I were ready to embark in this our latest diving into the midst of the sky for the blind purpose of 'seeing a movie'. I'm very worried about seeing the movie. Why? Well, for over a year now I have been dying to see this film. I loved three separate versions of the script, from Hensleigh's pop-culture reference filled first draft, to the spit and polished version I would be seeing on screen later today. In addition I had been on set back a long time ago (you can read that at Harry's World) and that one visit gave personality to each and every paperbound character. Someone like 'Bear' could be such a completely empty and blahey character, but after I met and saw 'Big' Mike Duncan, well I knew he would steal the hearts of everyone searching for those characters, the small ones (or large ones) that steal films from the bigger named actors. He had a charisma, a peace, a coolness on set that was magic. The mere look on Steve Buscemi's face told me everything about him, the same with Will Patton's character.

So that brings me to today, the worried look upon my brow placed there by two of my best friends that hated the film, and a comment from Glen where he told me, "Actually Harry, I could actually see you not liking the movie."

That was never an option in my mind before Glen said it. He knows me real well, he can predict within a pindropping of how I'll react to films. Only two people I trust in the world didn't have a doubt how I'd react... Joe Hallenbeck and RoboGeek. The said the movie would grab my heart, my balls and my brain and tug like a Truckasaurus. Robo kept talking about soul and Hallenbeck kept talking of how cool it was. Cool and soul are two of my favorite words to hear in conjunction with a film.

As I arrived in Orlando, feeling a bit like the saluting zombie in Day of the Dead, Dad and I stumbled about for 20 minutes just trying to find a cab. Oh, this was going to suck. I could sense a mounting tsunami of bad incidents awaiting my every turn. A $40 cab ride later I arrived at the Wilderness Lodge at DISNEYWORLD. Knowing I would not get to partake of the rides, the themes or the world that is Disney was painful. I've wanted my whole life to come to Epcot and DisneyWorld. I also wanted to go to UNIVERSAL to see the Terminator 3-D ride. Tears evaporated from their ducts in the 109 degree heat.

The lodge was like a gigantic cartoon world right out of LAST OF THE MOHICANS, I could sense the incoming shells blasting the hell out of these gigantic logcabin walls that extended some 8 stories above me. The native american chandelier/animal skin thingees are cool. Giant totem poles. The first good sign of the trip.

Not long after checking into the room Dad and I had to leave the hotel and head for Cape Kennedy. We climbed into gigantic buses and headed out to the land of gators and manatees. The place where man is hurled into the void of space and it feels like the natural thing to do. On the bus we saw a making of ARMAGEDDON video that well was just a hype-fest. I didn't need to see this because I was finished with the hype, I had legitimate doubts and I didn't want to see some advertising firms slickly packaged 'me so orny, me love you long time' proposition, I wanted the damn film. Next (it's a long drive) they showed a CNN 'big shit hitting earth special' with Shoemacher/Levy talking about hunks of stuff slamming into our planet. It put me to sleep.

Dad soon woke me to show me we were arriving at the Cape. Rockets dotted the horizon, a full size space shuttle, it's booster rockets, the vehicle assembly building, the launch pad... In otherwords I was finally beginning to awaken from my doldroms. This is where it happens. Where man looks away from the surface of this slimey mudhole I call home, and heads out there. This is where every little boy wants to grow up to leave behind. This is where the last dream was pronounced that was so big, so grand, it captured the imagination of endless generations. From this spot to the moon, it happened here. God, that's cool. To see the places, to walk on the cement, to smell the salt watered air, to feel that wind, to look up and see where Challenger crushed my innocence. This is where it happened. Where dreams form and sometimes die, but never forever. To boldly go. For all mankind. Because it's hard.

I began tearing up. When I see the gator swimming to eat a crane in the canals, I begin to see the side I've never seen on CNN, this NASA takes place not in a static lifeless enviroment, but right here beside nature. Gopher turtles, cranes, gators and manatees. A gigantic Bald Eagle nest atop a tree. This world is nothing like you would imagine. We get taken much closer to the launching pad than any 'tour' would let you, and with each step I feel the loss of that 6 year olds' dream I had of going up there. To see the planet in it's entirety with my own eyes, to feel light... just once, to fly with pixie dusts and happy thoughts... This place is magic.

We arrive at the premiere. Red carpet cuts into the grey and green world of Cape Kennedy, an unnatural element in a naturally unnatural enviroment. A media armada on one side, stars and folk on the other. E.T., Access Hollywood, Telenoticias, Telemundo, Brazil, Japan, Germany, the world watching. God I hope the movie doesn't suck. To have seen the promise of my dreams of long ago in these big ol buildings, these tanks of liquid hydrogen and oxygen.. and then to see a sucky movie. Well, I couldn't stand that, but I was fully prepared for it. Dad and I left that bus and walked the carpet. 3 or 4 times I was captured for interviews, that was cool, but really.. I just wanted to take my seat. I wasn't in the mood to schmooze, my charm energy was left 6 hours ago. So I pass Michael 'Bear' Duncan, Ben Affleck, etc.. and I just head to my seat. Top row aisle. Great seats.

I'm tired, I want the movie to start, I want to be infused with the energy Hallenbeck had when he saw this film. I wanted to blossum forth from the film, but I was ready to wither. Dad kept announcing the celebrities to my ear as they entered. Cuba Gooding Jr, Coolio, Keith David, Trevor Rabin, Jessica Steen, Steve Tyler and Aerosmith, Ben Affleck and Ms. Paltrow, Jonathon Hensleigh, Bruce Willis, Bruce Springstein, Billy Gibbons, Peter Stormare, Will Patton, Michael Bay, Jerry Bruckheimer, J.J.Abrams, Jesse Alexander, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Michael Duncan, Michael Bay's mom, tons of NASA dudes and Owen Wilson. Then there was all the babes, lotsa babes. I really wasn't into the scene this time out. 32 hours of no sleep was catching up. Then I realized that our row was the row that Buscemi, Bear, Stormare and crew were sitting at. And the beautifully stunning Jessica Steen was sitting beside me.

This was beginning to get long though. The film was running 30 minutes late, when finally the doors closed, the lights went down, and the only sound was the rustling of the tent caused by the massive influx of air conditioned air.

Then the Bruckheimer logo arrived signaling the departure from the world of regular living, and I knew this was going to be a film wholly belonging in the universe that Simpson & Bruckheimer co-created way back with TOP GUN. What is this universe I speak of? Well...

THE BRUCKHEIMER UNIVERSE OF FILMED STORIES...and ARMAGEDDON

I love this universe. This is a place where sweat drips in slow motion, where sunsets are always golden and have helicopters chop chop chopping away. This is a place where establishing shots are aplenty. A world where the main characters don't usually do things for logical reasons, in fact logic isn't really important because this is the world of mythic heroes. People that walk in a varied set of frame-controlled speeds. Skies have filtered colors, the dialogue is ultra-cool and the explosions are 5 to 50 times larger than any rational person could believe. Guns never run out of bullets, and people fire them when they shouldn't. It's a universe where the heroic males leave the fair maidens behind clutching their hearts upon a sunset pedestal and with a hushed exasperated look upon their brow, wispy wet eyes following the hero off to fight the inevitable demon that'll doom us all. Until now this demon has always been a variation of man against man in the Bruckheimer Universe, but here in ARMAGEDDON we finally had Man against Nature. The world resting in the careful balance, a balance that noone but the most improbable could save. And aren't heroes always the improbable ones?

Gary Cooper's SGT YORK wasn't the tough as nails killer he needed to become to kill the Kaiser's men all those decades ago. No, he was a concientious objector, a religious man that would not take another's life. A man whose skill for hunting turkeys turned him into the deadliest man of World War 1. So it is here that the world calls upon men who wouldn't walk an old lady across a street, the type of people that never do it in the missionary way. Yeah, they're the dirty types, the oil riggers that take their paychecks and piss them away on low brow white trash pipe dreams at a crap table, a tatoo parlor or a whore house. They aren't the types you would look in the eye, but they are the types that don't run when death comes knocking, and death is a big damn hunk of ice, iron and shit I don't even know what was.

Copernicus said the film was an insult to every thinking character in the film, that these people were made out to be evil. Wrong. These 'evils' were in a dire situation, Billy Bob Thornton is not evil, not incompetent, he just needs an expertise that he was not prepared to have on a moment's notice. Throughout the film the Copernicus 'evils' are shown to have soul, doubts and fears. There are no evil people when the end of the world comes, there are no athiests, there is only humanity. The time when all the silly arguements vanish away, except for the people that are still alive, and that's the team sent up to 'solve' the problem.

Would I entrust the whole existence of mankind in the hands of these people? Yes. Because for this moment, for this mankind saving mission, James Bond isn't what you need, Albert Einstein said you drill, so ya drill, end of issue. That's the case. All the what ifs, and the should ofs melt away, all of that is merely suspension of disbelief that comes with the Bruckheimer world. IF you do fret over these 'inconsistencies' then I hold it is upon your shoulders that the movie doesn't work. It becomes the viewers personal lack of association with the situation that has failed. To those that are loving the film, the end of the world is at hand in this film. And if you are a regular joe, who's never seen the inside of a church since he ran away from home 35 years ago, well the weight of this mission is joked about, the reality of the situation is avoided at all costs. Why?

Because when you begin to think that a single mistake means the life of the planet, you can't work at all. That pressure, the inability to 'use the force' 'prey to God' 'to reach deep within and make that which seems hopeless become a glorius victory' that becomes the horror. And that is what we see in the trained people, what we see in some of the riggers. In all, noone thinks they can just go home if it doesn't work out, each of them is willing to give the ultimate sacrifice, to draw the short straw, to leave the blue glow of earth for all time. And this film gets me for that exact reason.

The first time I cried in the film was when Billy Bob Thornton says, "For the last twenty years the U.S. Government has wondered why to fund us, let's give them an answer today." (or something real close to that) That got me because it was such a sad statement on the situation. That this asteroid was coming to take us all, and it's because we weren't funding the searches, because we weren't looking to the skies, but to our own petty problems here on earth, too preoccupied with blowjobs in corner offices than to look into the sky and see that it was falling.

Then there's the scene with Willis and Thornton where Willis can't believe he's the plan. Where he realizes that his belief in all that is NASA, that thing we each have, that the best of the best work there, that answers to all of earth's problems lay there, that that may not be so.. but only because we haven't given them the tools to solve them all.

The performances in the film capture me, each and everyone of them. Like OUT OF SIGHT was for the crime lovestory, this is for the action/adventure/sci-fi/love story. The dialogue I felt was snappy and sharp, the score was perfect. Trevor Rabin gave these men, these simple men that could never put a sunset into words, and he gave them a soul, he gave them the nobility they didn't know they had themselves.

I can't understand not loving this film, it's just not in me to grasp it. Just as I can't understand not loving THE ROCK or CRIMSON TIDE or TOP GUN. I love the fucked up world of a Bruckheimer production. That impossible is possible, that triumph, that rah rah patriotic Rockwellian world where bullets fly and the bad guys die. Nothing is ugly and everything has character, be it the sky or the water, it's all better than it looks at any given moment. The lens of a Bruckheimer production makes reality look better than it is. And I like that. I wish I could see the world through filters and altered f-stops and chemical heat color changes.

Michael Bay. So the hell what if he started in MTV. My first piece I wrote on Michael Bay as an individual was about someone on this set saying his nickname was the Prince of Darkness. I defended him, a man I didn't know, by saying,'I don't care if he's satan himself, if he makes a movie like the ROCK, well dammit I'm with him satan or no.' His editing style, the way he moves his camera, it feels alive, it feels kinetic, thrilling. Like something is happening. As for being able to follow his storytelling through his editing... I loved it. He used flash editing to emphasize the insanity of action in reality. So many moving things, so many objects to focus on, so many items, so many deaths... well that's the way action is, it isn't a steadicam or a tracking shot. It's a series of shots, a montage of images that flood around you. If you paid attention in Eastwood's UNFORGIVEN you would of heard why most people can't be a good gunslinger, it's because they can't focus within a maelstorm of activity. So if you get lost in the action, it's because you aren't Clint Eastwood or Bruce Willis. It's because you are a regular person in the midst of that which is most irregular.

I'll see the film again on Wednesday, I'll stand in line for hours, I'll take my sister and I'll see her tremble and cry, a reflection of myself and many others. Not everyone will love it, but for those of us that do, don't doubt the motivations, it's not because we're paid, it's not because we went to DisneyWorld, it's because we loved the movie. And it's because of that that I won't talk of the Aerosmith concerts or my brushes with the famous, that's not what you'll get for your $8, and it won't be what I get for my $8 bucks either. But the comments I made for this movie are whole and real. After the film, Jessica Steen looked at me, my eyes dripping, my glasses in my hands and she said, "This is your first time isn't it? It got ya." and all I did was smile and say, "yup". It got me, I hope it gets you too.

This film is worse than Independence Day. It had the most cliched dialogue in any film I had ever seen. Yet another horrid American flag-waving piece of nonsense that couldn't even entertain me with its obscene budget.

It works, and not on the B movie Independence Day level either. It looks great in that hyper reality way that Harry describes, most of the dialogue is pretty sharp, and the it's well served by its cast. It is definitely 'Best of Genre', and not simply an excercise in FX such as the lamentable Twister or (from all reports - I haven't seen it yet) Godzilla. You'll only be disappointed if you're expecting to see something it simply isn't pretending to be.

That lucky SOB Harry got to sit next to Jessica Steen at the Armageddon premiere! Jessica plays the female shuttle pilot in the movie. For more info on her check out her web site at http://www.jessicasteen.com/

Good popcorn bashing movie!
Opening scene is absolutely brilliant, then get slow for next hour and switch off your logical brain cells for the rest of the movie and it is really quite good but too long!!!
*** (out of five) Not as good as "The Rock!"

I dunno..maybe its just that ive been wading through so many cruddy movies that when Armageddon finally came out in australia yesterday i was so impressed i am still on a high. I LOVED it (even though i dont really go for that yanky gung ho stuff) but it was cool and i could tell the audience loved it too because usually when i see a movie as soon as it ends people are out(they dont stop to watch the credits) but after armageddon i turned around and everyone was still sitting there with the same dumbfounded stupid grin on their faces that i imagined i must have.

Calling you all the way down in Aussieland and keep upto date on your site. Lurrve your work, well most of it
Armegeddon, seen it twice loved it and gave it a 9(same as you, twice in 1 week) and could see it again
sOMETHING ABOUT mARY
jst seen it about hour ago hysterical and very funny
well cast and acted
regards
NICKO

I've never disagreed with you whole heartedly on anything until I read your first review of Armageddon. Though it did have impressive visuals, and the most expensive marketig campaign in film history which should all but guarantee a popular reaction, I must strenuously take issue. I will admit I found your analysis of Bruckheimer films fascinating, however your defense of them disappointing. I'll start with Micheal Bay. I don't care that he started on MTV, but someone should tell him when he switches to feature length films, he should adjust his style. He hasn't. I found it funny you talked of the characterizations, when Bay seems completely ininterested in the characters stylistically. For God's sakes, Bay, leave the camera alone, and let the actors speak!!! I do marvel at Bay's proficiency in staging effects. It is almost unparalelled. That's why I was so disappointed in the latter half of the film. After a rockin' start (albeit a joke on the credibility scale) with the would-be destruction of New York, the movie gets bogged down on the asteroid or meteor or whatever. The effects on the meteor were less appealing, and the "drilling plan was boring. Add to that Hensleigh's cheesey dialogue (My God, Harry, did you say the dialogue was "crisp" or "right on"?), and I can see why you said Hensleigh wrecked the Incredible Hulk screenplay. I'll admit, the film had incredible moments, (Bruce willis's death-the eye shot, destruction in NY, the flight to the asteroid), but ironcically, you could probably fit them all into a music video. I hope next time Bay and Bruckheimer decide to make a film. And by the way, I'm still reeling at your praise of the script. You, who promote Great Cinema to your readers, the cinema of Hitchcock, Welles, and Fuller, and the rest... ouch.

This review has been a real disappointment. When I first found this site I was overjoyed that there was at least one movie reviewer out there who shared my taste in movies. But after this review I feel.....betrayed. I mean, come on people!- the writing was really lame, the acting was mediocre at best, and there was climax after climax after climax. In short, the movie blows, and anybody in his right mind could have figured that out. What a sell out, Harry.

Dear Harry
With regards to your review of Armegeddon, I like the fact that you took it so personally , but I feel it has biased your view towards what is at best a mediocre movie.
The acting was atrocious. I thought that the one saving grace was Steve Buscemi, but they wimped ou ton his character and made him go space-mad???
I feel the script is manipulative and has no charcater development at all. I loved The Rock and Crimson Tide, but those both had depth. Not in terms of the fact that it was nuclear war or a general (colonel???) fighting for what he believed was right, but in the fact that they told a cohesive story. In the best tradition of straight ahead narrative cinema, they had the hero going through a metamorphosis and saving humanity as we know it.
Armegeddon jumped from jaw dropping effect to the next one. It was strung together like consecutive pop-videos. It even felt like it was a pop video, with the incredible amount going on, on the screeen at the same time.
All in all , just overhyped garbage.
I would write more, but I am at work and my boss just walked past.
Later
Joel

Since seeing Armageddon and The Rock, Michael Bay has to be my favorite fast action director. His use of lighting is incredible. Some of the scenes in Armageddon are so breathtaking that it gives me chills. Also taking a small part and giving it such character is amazing. I saw the movie three times at the theatre because I wanted all of my friends to see it. That and I get into movies for free. If you liked The Rock then you will like Armageddon. And don't think that this movie is anything like Deep Impact. This movie actually gets to you.
Enjoy

I don&#39;t get that? Armageddon was slightly amusing at times, silly (borderline stupid) other times and just annoyingly full of it self the rest of the time. The only thing this movie has going for it is a kickass soundtrack and some impressive special effects... But that&#39;s not nearly enough.

Wow, you'd think that Harry would have learned not to be a sycophantic shill by now, especially after the blowback from this review, but he's still at it; brown-nosing his way across Hollywoodland. Oh, and by the way, despite the melodramatic flaws, DEEP IMPACT was a much better movie than ARMAGEDDON.

..these guys risked their LIVES flying into MOTHERFUGGIN' SPACE to blow up a ROCK and save our arses from destruction.<P>It kind of puts it all into persective and shows that piddling little issues like global terror, the environment and the economy really are not worth giving two shits about. Harry has shown a serious lack of taste in mocking their achievements.<P>We lost Bruce Willis for fucks sake! I mean sure, we kept Steve Buscemi - but BRUCE FUCKIN' WILLIS!

Just think about those brave souls who founded YOUR country - fleeing oppression, persecution etc.<P>Willing to sacrifice it all to venture out to new climbs, new challenges - just trying to find a part of the world they could call 'home'.

That's it Harry - no more of this rediculous behavour from me. I thank you for patience and understanding. I also want to thank Cheeses, Subs, GE, Savagedave and Stabby from 41811 and 6DB, D.Vader, BSB and Asi (my favourite nemesis) who I have known a bit longer.

Even after 10 years it still beats the shit out of most of the crap we see now.
The cast was amazing!!We lost Bruce!! That's a clone walking around. But we lost also Michael Bay.. Lost with his HASBRO toys.

Welcome to the party pal! We are refugees from the 41811 who, although intelligent and advanced in many ways, have been brought low through our reckless actions and are now reduced to seeking shelter wherever we can find it. <P>Sort of like those dudes from District 9. But without the looks. <P>I'm off back to 41811 to keep posting until the whole thing falls over. Damm - will we never learn?

getting this old TB on the top ten already is hilarious! <p> (1) I hope it doesn't detract from the "Oldman Drops A Bomb" Tb falling short of 9K or 10K. and <p> (2) that being suddenly on the Top Ten gets it noticed by the mods who kibosh it quickly. I'm guessing they won't unless the activity to fluff this thing up really picks up. <p> Til then, party on!

This thing has been in the top 10 about an hour and you come in with your 'Jar-Jar Abrams' shtick.<P>You know I love you you mad portugeuse bastard but for crying out loud - LET IT GO!<P>Unless of course you are deliberatly trying to get a rise out of me in which case good work.<P>Man, I can't believe it - we haven't been here a day and already the place is ruined.

Oh, okay, you beautiful beautiful man, you talked me into it. <P>Hey, did you ever grab Helen Hunt's sweet sweet can while working on What Women Want?
<P>Are you kidding me (gulp-7, ohhh) not only her's but Marissa Tomei's and those two old codgers as well, Delta Burke and that blonde chick from Superman. <P>Really, how did Helen react? <P>That tight ass chick slapped me, and has never forgiven me sense. But no one can resist the Mel baby, no one!

Papillon, Outlaw Josey Wales, Every Which Way But Loose, Any Which Way You Can, and more 80s tv appearances than you can shake a stick at. Get on it before the Black Widows come for you. Hit it LordofHell.

Wait wad happuned to #8? <P>I tossed two back on the second round, Mel is the MAN! <P>Nice, hey how was Gary Sinise, I heard he's a neo-con, would think you two would get along. <P>Screw that dude, he's a dick and doesn't like to party. I think he won't forgive me cause I made a pass at his gal. <P>Dammit Mel, you old bastahd, to MEL! <P>HAEEEEE, TO MEE!

This may be the last for ol' Mel. <P>gulp-10 <P>Wowza, ogay ogay, you wanna know who was a dirty chick, Julia Freakin' Roberts. Man I thought I could take her, out do her with pranks and what not, back on the set of Conspiracy Theory. <P>But let me tell you, she knew how to play the game, man, showing up at my trailer holding a dildo the size of a horse man, and asking me if she could get to "know" me better. Well damn, I thought, I thought well alright! She is here to party. <P>I won't even tell you about the time she offered to lick yours truly's grundle, and then when I lay back on the couch, she sits down on my face with her bare ass and starts grinding my nose, and then says, "Mel, you aint gonna win me over brown nosing, you gotta go down farther than that to impress me!"
<P>Whoa did that really happen, or did you just imagine that whilst high? <P>Hey man, this is Mel we are talking about, shut the hell up, yes that really happened. Oh man am I drunk.

If you want, i can astop mentioning Jar Jar Abrams' Dawson trek... and start calling it Jar Jar Abrams' Crap Trek. would that be more to your satisfaction.<br><br>Any mention of a shit movie will bring comparisons to Jar Jar Abrams' Crap Trek. Jar Jar Abrams' Crap Trek is the new measure stick from which all shit will be measured up now. Armageddon measures up pretty nicely to Jar Jar Abrams's latest retardness.

I think TKD will find us here. But will repost the node on the BackpedalBenbenPedalback V2.0 just in case. <p> Let's hear/read you're review of D9 when you get back. If you and Subs end up in relatively the same place, I'm probably writting it off until a DVD in 12-18 months.

It's bringing back too many painful memories. Like my wife Victoria Lynn Riggs, oooohhh gawd baby 'sob 'sob, I'M SORRY! AHHH, I'M SO SORRY!!! <P>Whoa whoa whoa Mel, calm down dude, that was only Martin Riggs wife, your character from Lethal Weapon, jeezus pull yourself together man. <P>I'm sorry man, oh man I'm sorry. Did I ever tell you who was really behind 9/11. <P>Oh jeez, here we go, Mel why don't we go back to talking about Rene Russo. <P>Ooohhh yeah, Rene, damn she was a vixen. Not like that tight ass Helen Hunt who wouldn't put out for ol' Mel. But Rene, oohhh yeah, she was a tease. <P>She was a looker, dya ever see The Thomas Crown Affair. <P>Arghhh don't remind me man, she got all nekkid for that damn Irish man, she never did that crazy stuff with Mel, she told me she wouldn't do a nude scene cause of her religion. AND I BELEIVED HER! Ohh, but still, she made me crazy, yikes. <P>She sounds amazing. <P>By the way, who the hell am I talking to? <P>I am Mel's medula oblongata. <P>Huh? <P>Sorry, classical reference, nevermind.

You obviously didn't read my 08:53:36 AM post did you? He gave his life for us - and Hollywood was good enough to make Sixth Sense just so his ghost could collect a pay-cheque for it.<P>We came here to forge a new life, a new order. One based on tolerence and repect - and that includes acknowledging the debt we owe Bruce for saving our sorry arses from ARMAGEDDON!

gulp-11 <P>Woot! I don't even feel it anymore. That is niiiicee. Especially my old knee, which I first injured running around like a loon on the set of Galipoli, and then I re-injured it on Lethal 2, and then again on that damn Lethal 4 trying to figure out how to fight Jet Li. Damn that chinaman was quick. <P>Please don't say chinaman Mel, that isn't PC. <P>Wahuh? Well waddya supposed to call them those little funny people. <P>Oh gawd, this never ends well. Malibu, Mel, Malibu, you must remember your failure at Malibu on PCH. <P>But master, is the drunk side stronger?

..now Mel's three sheets to the wind and talking to himself about his old films!<P>Just HOW am I going to explain the mess around here to the others when they arrive from a soon-to-be-broken backpedalback. You lot had better promise to help clear up.

Mel's got a hankerin' for some Taco Bell, it goes nice with the...gulp-#1 TEQUILA! I'm thinking a cheesey Gordita, a Crunchwrap Supreme, and Baja Chalupa. Anyone making a run for the border, puhleeeaaasee!!! <P>Well if you weren't going to make an ass of yourself before, you are now. Time to call the lawyers and make sure they are still on retainer. <P>IAMTHEKING OF MALIBU, YEAHHH!

Ol' Mel's gonna keep things together untils you get back, nothing could go wrong. But I was thinking of inviting some of my good ol buddies over, Robert Downey Jr., Stephen Baldwin (he's my spiritual mentor!) Britney Spears (she's my neighbor, and uhh, something else) oh and also Billy Baldwin, he has started going to church recently, plus he is Stephen's chaperone, after the whole celebrity jungle thing. <P>We'll keep the place nice and tidy for yas, until you get back! <P>Tequila shots for everyone!

To talk bout Armageddon. <P>Okay, so here's Mels take. See the thing is, there's no drama with world ending events. Well I mean there is, but you gotta personalize it, you know. Like we did with Signs, and yes, Mel had a lot to say about that movie with M. Night Shinalightonmydingdong. <P>Oh I understand old Bruce was the personification of the drama, with his little hot squirt going off with that Daredevil guy, but they didn't focus enough on that. Instead they spent too much time with all the world staring up at the sunset, like it was a damn Folger's commercial or soemthing. <P>Now don't get me wrong, I think Bruce is a helluva guy, we haven't had a lot of time to talk, but I have seen him party and he knows how to tie one on. Didya see those pictures with him and young Lohan, damn they were about ta GET IT ON! Anyway, so yeah Armeggedon, it was good fun.

Man, I have been on this site since late 1998 (almost 11 years now)--reading this stuff takes me back. I remember seeing Deep Impact and Armageddon within a week of each other and being far more interested in Deep Impact.<p>
Deep Impact suffered from having too many stories to tell for a feature-length film (It would have worked much better as a mini-series), but it had real characters and emotional storylines, where everything in Armageddon was a cartoon. And it had Morgan Freeman as the President, which to this day is just freaking awesome.<p>
Armageddon had the backing of NASA and the worst physics I had ever seen in the movies...until I saw more of Michael Bay's work. The most egregeous error was them spinning the space station to give them artificial gravity...when it would have made the whole station Veritcal, not horizontal--actually I take it back EVERY SCENE IN SPACE WAS A TRAVESTY...but it looked good and people didn't have to think, and that's all that mattered.<p>
The idea that this group of people could do anything to stop an asteroid of that size is rediculous. There would still be catastrophic damage caused by the raining of radioactive rock throughout the world, and the dust fragments would probably choke our atmosphere to death or at least into a Nuclear Winter scenario....animal cookies or no animal cookies.<p>
Try watching Deep Impact again instead of Armageddon. It holds up much better, eleven years on...

But it's still 1000 times better then Armageddon. And i fucking hate Deep Impact.<br><br>Holywood will never be able to make a movie about an asteroid going to crash on Earth in an inteligent and well made manner. They can't help fucking it up. And they will always fuck up the science, no matter how many technical advisers they will hire. Bunch of idiots!

You're gonna dust off Deep Impact, and that horrible CGI with the impending wave and Tea Leoni hugging her estranged father, and Frodo Baggin's racing through traffic on his little Honda Scooter? <P>Armaggeddon is well lit schlock fest, but if you are going to do a ridiculous story about the world ending due to an impending asteroid attack, at least make it look pretty. I mean damn, they even made Billy Bob look like he knew what he was talking about. <P>Of course the whole concept to begin with is pure science fiction drivel. Everyone knows the world doesn't end until 4 spectral horse riders show up to do battle with the earth whilst our savior comes back to sword fight a seven headed serpent, and then there is this dude called the anti-christ who goes all nuts and brings about the abomination that causes desolation, and...and...whoa, I think I just found my next movie. But what if I had it take place in the Old West, or better yet India, yeah! It will all be in Hindi with sub-titles. And they can fight back those bastard British and their imperial occupation. Oh man, this is gonna be epic. I need some more tequila!

But he didn't cry at the end of Passion of the Christ at his Butt-Numb-A-Thon. I know, I was there, drunk again off some micr-brew. Oh I know I did a video message, but that was only cause I didn't want you nerds touching Mel, I gotta reputation to maintain. So I sat in the back in my trenchcoat and sunglasses, and I flashed my diddley-doo at the fat chicks as they walked by, figured I would give them a thrill.

Who said that, who was here, hnuh? Oh man, just woke up from my bourbon and tequila induced coma, jeez could have sworn someone was just here, but they vanished. <P>OUCH! Man does Mel have a headache, drinking in the morning was not a good idea, awwww. <P>But you know what the only cure for that is, drinking in the afternoon, oh yeah! Shots on me boys, Mel is getting blato, ouwoooo! ow ow owoooooo!

About James and Babs? <P>Plus I said far mor romantic things to my wife, and they never made up a song about it, I used to tell her things like, "nice rack honey, I'd like suck rum from those baby feeders." and "baby I love your can, it makes all other cans look like chunks of white cottage cheese. Id love to ride your rear for days at a time!" also I'd say, "my purple headed yogurt slinger is hungry for attention, how bout a little gobble gobble? eh?" <P>Whats up, I was the epitome of class! They should right songs for ol' Mel.

..what a great fuckin' film. Intelligent, tense and thought provoking - everything good sci-fi should be.<P>Highlights for me were;<P>- Great set design. Lived in, functional, believable. 2001 meets Red Dwarf.<P>- A cracking score from Clint 'Pop Will Eat Itself' Mansell. Dischordant, creepy but in no way intrusive.<P>- An awesome turn from Sam Rockwell. His Sam Bell was sympathetic, likeable and noble. Even when being a complete arse. To himself.<P>Ok the plot/twist wasn't quite as original as some have made out - if you keep your eyes and ears open you can tell whats about to happen about 5 minutes before its revealed but its done with enough panache and skill to make the whole thing seem to just unfold very naturally.<P>Overall I'd give it 8 out of 10 - I really fucking liked it!<P>Oh, and ebonic_plague about giving up on the BackpedalBack we have a saying at work. If you can't ride two horses you shouldn't have joined the circus.

Which I often do, when I am totally hammered. That the action of critiquing Hollywood movies, not "films" but movies is really pointless. So comparing the achievements or the quality of Armageddon vs. Deep Impact is like comparing the quality and achievement of two massive turds, oddly enough something I found myself doing recently while "refunding" on some Wild Turkey. <P>So where was I going? Oh yeah, my point is that it comes back to a personal experience, and whether you enjoyed the experience of watching the movie. If the glaring technical problems and poor character development bothered you, than you have every right to walk away from that movie and say "bullshit, its crap!" (also you are a bit of a pencil necked geek if you cared too much about the scientific work regarding an impending asteroid attack, or meteor, I get those two confused, ;). <P> However, if a movie moves you, or entertains you, or makes you laugh, even if you know that its production quality is shite, you should still be able to exclaim to the world that you enjoyed it, with out being lamblasted for being a culturally deficient plebe with the brain power of a banana slug. <P>I really hope you guys get this point, because by the time I get back to movies and try to direct my Hindi language, India located re-interpretation of the Book of Revelation, I am going to need all the goodwill supporters I can get!

The first poster said this...<P>This film is worse than Independence Day. It had the most cliched dialogue in any film I had ever seen. Yet another horrid American flag-waving piece of nonsense that couldn't even entertain me with its obscene budget. <P>Hmmm, I had something to say about this, but speaking of going back in time, I just opened up a bottle of 15 year old Macallan, and its calling my name. <P>Gulp-#1, hwere we goes again, woopideedoo!

...and I saw the trailer for Shutter Island.<P>It looks good but made me realise that Leonardo DiCaprio is a walking anachronism. He could be the best actor in the world but every film you see him in he looks out of place and out of time. Did U.S marshals in the 1950's often have goatee beards? What IS he hiding under that thing?<P>He may have the method down pat but unless he disappears into characters the way Bobby D did then he is never going to do a Martin Scorsese film justice.

Maria freaking Bello, that's what Mel thinks. I mean Helen was a stuck up twat, but Maria didn't even want to flirt or screw around. Do you know how tough it was to get that bitch to give me something back during the shoot. <P>I'm standing in the wind with my cock in hand and she can't even crack a smile, c'mon lady gimme sumptin! <P>But I swear I caught that chick breakin' wind on set one time, she tried to blame the grip on it, but Fernando was having none of it, he was like "listen stinky chick, that nastiness was your mess, don't go blaming me cause I had the kidney bean salad, I saw you at lunch with the beef and brocolli, so eat shit lady!" <P>That grip really put Maria in her place.

you'll forsake the Oldman TB. You dedicate your posting energy here and you've definitely doomed the backpedalTB V2.0 to sub-10K legacy. <p> A "coulda been". <p> A wash-up. <p> An under-achiever. <p> A nada. <p> A zip. <p> A zero. <p> A won't be. <p> A never will be. <p> A never was. <p> The other TB is DEAD, young sir, little miss. <p> It isn't going to eat too get a bloody nose or give one. <p> It isn't going to eat too much candy on halloween and wake up in the early hours of Nov 1 and throw it up in a quick glurt of acidic chocaltely bile. <p> It isn't going to have a first kiss or give one. <p> It'll never get bar-mitzvahed. <p> It'll never get laid. <p> It'll never get oral sex or give it. <p> It'll never get a handjob in the back of a movie theater or lurk in the corner of the theater and watch someone get one. <p> It'll never leave the nest. <p> And it'll never grow old gracefully, or live hard and fast and burn out brightly. <p> IT WILL JUST DIE. <p> I could go on all day and never get it right. <p> That other TB will whither away like a dried up flower bud that never bloomed. <p> Like a wet splash of water on hot white concrete around a swimming pool. <p> Like a spilled slurpee on hot summer asphalt. <p> it will just evaporate. And maybe leave behind a slight discoloring that a few people who saw the slurpee hit the road will recognize as the place it all went down. But anyone else passing through will disregard as less than a greasy spot on Main Street. <p> Is that how you want it to go? <p> Subs? <p> Series? <p> 'Moose? <p> Stabby? <p> YoungDawg? <p> Mel? <p> TedKord? <p> Doc M? <p> just askin

..I did say this Subs - we need to focus. Lets get our arses back to 41811 and finish what we started. This place isn't going anywhere - we got it back once we can do it again.<P>But our chance at reaching the 10K? We can't blow it now we have come this far. Fuck refresh times - we do these things NOT because they are easy but BECAUSE they are hard. No regrets.<P>FOR OLDMAN, FOR CHEESEY, FOR FREEEEEEDDDDOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!

Damn you, damn you all. Mel's starting to feel a little sober, think I'll lube up with Conti and start in on some Fat Tire. The calories will probably settle my stomach, what withe the bourbon, tequila, and now scotch. Oh and did I mention the Vodka I slipped in there earlier? I have a venerable United Nations of liquor doing cartwheels in my bread basket. I'm not sure they are going to want to stay there for long.

that was one of my "self-indulgent" posts. Mostly just for the fuck of it, aside from tryign to make a minor point about posting here (one that I'm knowingly going against by the nature of this very post!) and partially riffing on part of King's "The Body" (Standy By Me's novella)

No doubt about it, sometimes, in the quiet of my soul, I consider the fact that I shoudl be put down. But c'mon, whats a party without good ol' Mel getting shit faced and spewing innapropriate garbage. You know you want to hear my stories, just ask, I'll fill you in.

As the floods of God<P>
Wash away thin air<P>
They say it was written<P>
In the page of the Lord<P>
But I was looking<P>
For that great jazz note<P>
That destroyed<P>
The walls of Jericho<P>
<P>
The winds of fear<P>
Whip away the sickness<P>
The messages on the tablet<P>
Was Valium<P>
As the planets form<P>
That golden cross Lord<P>
I'll see you on<P>
The Holy Cross Roads...

The call has been sounded and the cavalry is here! No BSB just yet but I wouldn't rule it out.<P>I can sleep easy here in the UK now I know this place is full of friends and in the hands of people who know how to look after a TB. Please pay a visit to 41811 as well if your bandwith will allow it

I'm here in the UK too (currently crushing on a young and sexy Goldie Hawn on PRIVATE BENJAMIN - she was quite teh hotness back in the day!) so I'll be signing off in the next few mins, but this is offically THE place to be for the next 10,000 posts!<P>
Will get over to 41811 too - you've won me over with the madness. Keep it going!

Do you have any idea how much cocaine the human body can consume of hooker's snatch's. Oh by the way, I'm floatin' on some heavy morphine shit boys, I just tried to pull the Martin Riggs shoulder trick in the other room, before I realized that I am NOT Martin MUTHAFUCKIN Riggs. The pain was unreal, don't want to talk about it. <P>Pizza fuckin Spuds, you want to talk about pizza fucking? How about waking up to find your dick shoved up the back end of freshly backed chicken cordon bleu, that cheese burns like no other. And that tramp Britney said she was lactose intollerant and wouldn't suck the cheese off. <P>Damn that little tramp, what's a little iritable bowl syndrome when my johnson is melting in a pastry filled with hot lava sauce!

Here is the problem with floating between rooms, I'm doubling up on stories. <P>So here's the skinny on Foster, she was a righteous babe, she got a little faded on some Jim Beam and came a knocking on ol Mel's trailer door. We played hide the pokey, quivering love pudding, and ball park franks in buns. I thought everything was great, we had a blast making Maverick. Then I see her one day and she's rug munchin' at this party that Lou Diamond Phillips threw. Well I go up to her and I'm like "hey toots, what happened?" <P>I was expecting a smile or some mild flirting, but then she goes off on me about ruining her mojo, and causing her to shit wrong for a week, and re-curring nightmares of my tube worm. <P>I mean, sure, I felt bad, but listen lady, when you play with Mel, you are going to get MEL!

Dude, I loved it. It was like a gift from God, especially after such a crappy summer for movies. I saw exactly four good movies this summer:Moon, D9, Drag Me To Hell, and Star Trek(Dumb, but exciting and well-crafted). Actually, that'd be two good movies, one great film, and one good dumb popcorn movie.

If you post here and at the D9 board, you really aren't advancing either, its like voting for both David Archuleta and David Cook in the final, something a Brit would do. Don't be such a Brit Ted!
<P>Trust me Ted, in Mel's book, being a Brit is the worst thing ever, in fact just calling you a British Imperialist is akin to the worst swear ever, in Mel's world that is. Mel hates the British, don't be a Brit!

I need to remind him to watch out for my pube trimmings, see I was trying on some pantyhose in the bathroom, and I'd just finished off a bottle of Shiraz, when I realized I wasn't going to be able to fit my, well, you know what just tell him that the stuff on his burger isn't fresh ground pepper! <P>Mel apologizes, Mel is pretty wasted.

...a pooper thats why we invited HUDSON COCK!<P>You pulled this shit already further up under Juan McClane. Are you Walter B back from the dead?<P>This place is still in the top 10 and beckpedalback notched up 600+ posts in the last 24 hours.<P>THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!

If a movie is dumb, then it's not good. Dumb is bad. Thus, call it something else but good. Like guilty pleasure or somethign like that. But to call it good is an insult to all the good movies and the filmmakers who made them.

Let's get this bitch back up in the list. They're still talking about that fucking non-event Gary Oldman comment up at the top - let's give them the full Mel Gibsteinberg!!!<P>
I'm watching BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and flicking over to BUBBA HO-TEP every few minutes. I will have the greatest dream EVER tonight. That's one fucked up combination.<P>
Oh, and I'll bring Jodie Foster BACK from the Dark Side when I'm ready. For now, she can drink from the furry cup.

Guess we're locked out boys.<p>
It was good times tho...<p>
After this one I'm retiring from AICN for a while. This dojo has other dealings to tend to...<p>
It was good to bow out on a high, and all you guys get lifetime kudos, i'll hear no ill words spoken against you.<p>
Conti, take care of yourself buddy.<p>
If you'll excuse me I have a rather good bottle of red to try...

I have the “exact” 10000th.<P>We indeed passed it before we thought we did. The counter hadn't been keeping to-the-second tally for a couple of days.<P>It only matters to the record keepers.<P>We all share 10000!!!<P>And Asi gets the Spirit Award @ post #10024.<P>The Back-pedalback crashed with post #10055 submitted by Series7.<P>The 10000th post was submitted @1:55:29 by my heterosexual life partner 6DB, and I quote “Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown.”<P>Thank you, all!

That some AICN Admin was watching the Oldman TB and saying "okay, I'll let you folks have your fun, but at 10K this bandwidth hog is shut down!" <P>And the 10055 it died on was the soonest he was able to kill it? What happened to Harry's little idea of Film Anarchy, what happened to allowing the common man amongst us the opportunity to get tossed and create thousands upon thousands of vulgar and dispicable posts late into the night for our own personal enjoyment. What happened to... <P>wait for it... <P>FREEEEDOOOMMM! <P>Sorry, that was weak, just had to.

Another spare post was just counted. I may have to adjust my "official" number. <P>Which begs the question, will we ever really know, officially and with absolute certainty?<P>Perhaps not, but as of this minute the tally for The Back-pedalback stands at 10308, with an accuracy of +/- 10.

I tried posting a little while ago over at the Backpedalback v.20whatever youcall it, but, as you all know by now, it be locked out. <p> I suppose they figure letting ti get to 10K was enough recognition of it and blackbox posting in would have been more recognition than they wanted to give it. The more they legitimize this kind of thing, the more it perpetuates future instances. <p> To me, havign it happen once every 18 months or so ain't that bad. But, hey, i just post here!

it is ratcheting up posts because it is behind the count.<P>Am I the only one who noticed the tally seemed way off for days?<P>I really doubt it's counting limbo posts. Computers can't do that, can they?<P>I'm going to wait until it stops counting and make my "official" calculations from there.<P>If Stabs ever gets the bitch PDF'd, I'd almost be willing to dedicate the next month of my life to counting it and summarizing it.<P>Oh, the party is on here, buddies! Some of us might be taking a wee break (Myself, I haven't washed my ass in a month), but we are going to continue. Bet all-in on that one.<P>Cheeses, I'll see you here tonight, and we can tear it up!

Arnie goe to the police station posing as a visitor for Sarah Connor only to be told visiting hours are over. "I'll be back", he promises the desk attendant, and duly fulfills his promise. In a huge fuck-off truck.

The last few survivors are holed up and watching their trackers for the approaching aliens. "Thy're right on us!" "Remember, short controlled bursts" "Nine metres, seven, six..." "That's inside the room!"

"Where is she?"<p>"Mellow out, man. We can't talk business with you waving guns in people's faces. Your daughter's safe, colonel, whether she stays that way is up to you. My people got some business with you, and if you want your kid back you gotta co-operate. Right?" <p>"Wrong." (BLAM)

Sub's Favorite Action Sequences, in no particular order, subject to be completely different (pending on 'Lop's suggestions)<P>PLANET OF THE APES - the cornfield, first appearance of a gorilla on horseback<P>BULLITT - the car chase through the streets of the city<P>STRANGERS ON A TRAIN - as a carousel spins out of control and the antagonists fight, a carney crawls under the carousel to get to the brake (a scene filmed with an actual stuntman crawling under an actual out-of-control merry-go-round)<P>ALIENS - Same scene as Disco described - a killer! <P>JAWS - the harpooning scene with Hooper racing to tie a marker to a float<P>BOURNE SUPREMACY - the climactic car chase in Moscow<P>BATMAN - the Axis Chemical scene<P>MARATHON MAN - Dustin Hoffman's dental torture<P>BONNIE & CLYDE's death(tie)<P>THE GODFATHER - Sonny's death(tie)<P>BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN - The Odessa Steps. (Later referenced by Brian DePalma in THE UNTOUCHABLES.)

Though I concur with whoever put Quint's USS Indianapolis speech in their list. That was one of cinema's all-time great moments for sure. The bit in Once Upon A Time in the West when Hank Fonda shoots the kid is pretty great too.

The problem is that MJ has already been established as his first big love. Anything they do now will smack of the filmmakers just trying to do something to bring back the MJ romance or acknowledge that it has played out. It would just smack of them not knowing what to do with Peter's personal life, and Gwen's death wouldn't be nearly as big as in the comics where it was established that he CHOSE Gwen over MJ - she was his soul mate. <P>
Now they could just go ahead and reverse the thing and kill MJ, but I think the problem with that is that audiences are already sick of her. Killing her would just them admitting they have reached the limit of the MJ-Peter relationship and gone past it by a couple of movies. It wouldn't be greeted by shock, it would be greeted by cheers. <P>
I just think they fucked up by doing the Death of Gwen Stacy rip off in the first one. They should have saved it for part three. Think of the emotional payoff if in part 2 you introduce a new love interest and create a love triangle, in the end of 2 or beginning of 3 you have Peter chose Gwen and then have her tragically die. <p>
The other problem I have is the GG won't be the killer. I know a lot of people would say so what, but my thing is I want to see the best Spider-Man stories adapted, and the Death of Gwen Stacy was also the Death of the Green Goblin. That is the story I want to see. <P>
The other thing I don't think people realize is that The Green Goblin became Spider-Man's biggest foe when he killed Gwen, not before it. Before that it was probably Doc Oct. And by dying, the Green Goblin became this perfect boogie man, this idea of evil. When others down the Green Goblin outfit or when the Hobgoblin uses his weapons and tools, they are taking the mantle of this evil person who killed the person closest to Peter. They are taking up his legacy of evil, and without that legacy of evil the New Goblin and a Hobgoblin are just derivative villains, not people you can understand who scare Peter because he worries that they might hurt who is close to him now.

i see your point..that would be upsetting...they have really fucked up the continuity a little..i WOULD be upset that if they killed gwen, it wouldnt be by GG's hands...and you are correct to assume that the impact wouldnt be that great...unless they didnt do it til SM7...and have MJ fall by the wayside a little...<P>we'll see...but they do need to stick to classic characters...if they even think of CARNAGE...

I might have added THE FRENCH CONNECTION chase scene, the final fight in YOJIMBO, the one shot robbery from GUN CRAZY, the chariot race in BEN-HUR, the final sword fight in ROB ROY, and the final chase scene in THE ROAD WARRIOR. <P>
Shit, and the final shot of the guy shooting at the audience from THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY.

Ok, just the ones that pop in my head right now. <P>
GODFATHER, closing the door on Annie Hall. <P>
SOME LIKE IT HOT ' "well, no one is perfect." <p>
THE BREAKING POINT - a young boy waiting on the docks for his father who will never return. <P>
CITIZEN KANE - "oh, so that was what this thing was all about." <P>
PSYCHO - Norman Bates, "mother", sitting in the cell as we superimpose the skull with the car being dragged out of the mud. <P>
CHINATOWN - "Forget it Jake. It's Chinatown." <P>
And bar none, the greatest ending to a movie ever GREED. If you haven't seen it, see it. Hands down the most balls out and poetic ending ever IMO.

BRAVEHEART was ok when it was just a fun action movie, but once people started saying it was a great movie, I was like "uh, no." <P>
BRAVEHEART is a lie of a movie (just like GLADIATOR). It tries to pretend that it is about some sort of bigger ideals, like freedom or against tyranny, but really both of them are just revenge movies. He wants to kill the people responsible for killing his wife. And the entire freedom thing is just a cover to make it look like he is doing something noble instead of doing something for his own personal reasons.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN rocked...im sick of people saying that it sucked...it just ends...no violent climax and closure...he walks off and sherriff is talking about dreams...great stuff...i love that it pissed the mainstream audience people off

SUNSET BLVD - "I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille." <P>
CASABLANCA - "Louis, this is the beginning of a Beautiful friendship." <P>
And THE SEARCHERS - with the closing of the door on John Wayne and the West.

The back-pedalback IS, indeed tasllying posts that it is not adding to the thread. So, I'm going back to the original determination that Series7's final post was post #10047, and I will adjust everything accordingly for the morning summary.<P>Am I the only one with this anal compulsion?<P>Not THAT anal compulsion, Mel, or savage, or Cobra, or whoever was gonna slam me first.

I read that entire book in one long afternoon, and I openly wept twice. I was pretty much obliterated for three days afterwards.<P>The movie will have to really impress me to match the experience of reading the book.

Though I will say Psycho is let down for me by the anti-climactic ten minutes or so beforehand. No Country for Old Men was great too, with Del Toro and the look he gives those kids at the end.<p>For me though, these five spring to mind right now:<p>DR. STRANGELOVE - riding the bomb down into armageddon, soundtracked by Vera Lynn.<p>Full Metal Jacket with the now heart-hardened marines walking through a living hell singing the mickey mouse club theme. Really, Kubrick is THE master of cinematic moments.<p>Good, THE BAND AND THE UGLY - Eastwood leaving the runt to die, then turning round from the top of the distant hill and casually shooting through the noose.<p>WILD BUNCH - no further explanation necessary<p>And lastly, my all-time favourite:<p>ROLLERBALL - "JONATHAN! JONATHAN! JONATHAN!" Now that's a feelgood movie.

Can't believe I forgot that movie. <P>
Other favorite endings (not saying best, just ones I like): <P>
LITTLE GIRL THAT LIVES DOWN THE LANE - young Jodie Foster having tea and cookies with child molester Martin Sheen, talking about how he taste almonds in the cookies or the tea. <P>
ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE - tracking shot as we pull back down the high way from the last of a breed, Robert Blake. <P>
AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD - Klaus Kinski on a boat with monkeys talking about how he is going to father a new race with his dead daughter. <P>
BEING THERE - Did I just see that? <P>
THE THIRD MAN - One of the best endings ever. No wonder the Coen brothers and Martin Scorsese have ripped it off. <P>
TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE & HALLOWEEN - the evil is still out there.

He even pulled one off in one of his first movies, AOP13 when he had the black cop help Napoleon Wilson as a sign of respect. <P>
Christine also had a good ending, and so did Starman when he lets her know that she is pregnant.

And it might be realism, but I think it comes to late to truly be part of the Italian Neorealism Movement. <P>
Same with BREATHLESS (plus it is French). That is for me part of La Nouvelle Vague and is cinéma vérité (I love how I can pretend that I speak and know fluent French).

i don't know if it's art, but I know that I like it.<P>I think I saw a Scorsese commentary where he compared LA STRADA with De Sica, or maybe I'm just all confused. I'm not an academic, like you are, friend. And much respect to you on that, as well. You'd chuckle if you knew how many films you've mentioned, and I've run straight off to add the to my Netflix queue.

1) I I think I am older than you. <P>
2) I used to be a video store clerk. <P>
3) While I went to college and took some film courses, I mostly just plundered the library and snuck into classes to watch movies (fuck, I am not going to wait until next year to take the French New Wave class - I want it now!). <P>
4) For about 4 or 5 years straight I saw over 500 movies a year. I also ballooned up to 285lbs of fat (I have since dropped all of that, thank you). <P>
5) I live in LA next to the Egyptian Theatre and the New Beverly, and near LACMA, so I am spoiled. I can see a classic, independent, or foreign movie almost any night of the week. <P>
6) I work in the film business. So part of my job is kind of knowing this shit.

1920-something by Erich von Stroheim. <P>
And if you are going to get that, also get THE WEDDING MARCH by Stroheim as well. Martin Scorsese mentions that one in his Journey Through American Film doc, and I thought it was awesome.

would require you to forget most of what you know.<P>Seriously, however you acquired your encyclopediac knowledge, you've retained it and share it. That's respectable.<P>Your views about Batman, though...GRIN.

Criterion cannot be wrong. The film was misunderstood. It was really social commentary about a matrix of leadership that resulted in the loss of audience participation. Yes, no -- the title didn't misadvertise this film. I was half asleep after driving all day, and it was indeed the end of times.

I just wish you'd said more, there. But I guess you ain't a moretherefucker. ... So in the end perhaps it's kudos for poodles! In any event, I think it's possible that the asteroid landing in Armageddon was faked entirely on a soundstage.

that the mashed potato levels would be far too low on that asteroid for a real film crew to have filmed there.
<p>
Therefore i can't help that agree that some sort of tricky sound stagery was employed. A sound stage...like what we are talking about...is certain to have the room, access ports, heating units, extra crowbars, etc necessary to hold a large vat of mashed potatoes.

... especially those crusted on Steve Buscemi's jumpsuit, you will see that the shadows do not match and that there is no way -- NO WAY! -- for this to have actually happened. This M. Bay is trying to put fears in the minds of impressionable toddlers, and I object, I object most strenuously.

one of many really. Buscemi's jumpsuit is one of the most obvious examples.
<p>
I dont know if you remember the scene where the ben affleck and the bruce willis characters are having their sexual tryst in that crater....and when they are done Affleck looks over and hes got this bit of mashed potato on his head.
<p>
Now....it is common knowledge that a small mash of potato...like what would stick to a fantastic actors head....would not stay put due to the physics and gravitational pull of the asteroid. That mash of potato stays there through the whole scene...until bruce willis licks it off at the end.

Speaking of common knowledge...this new mashed potato reform bill the democrats are trying pass really has the country heated up doesn't it?
<p>
I remember this one clip from a town hall meeting where this elderly woman approached a senator and said : "Aint no government gravy goin' on my tater's". It was a priceless! It just goes to show ...you know?

potatoes. I've been hoping that if i change it one little bit a time they won't notice.
<p>
My cat noticed so I got the hell out of there in a hurry...you know?
<p>
So I'm drivin down the road and this kipper no washing my pleats go up to bat for the good team airline no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no
<p>
a

I just wanna tell you all that, while I have certainly been a part of much more exciting, not to mention more important, endevors in my liftime...That was a hell of a lot of fun...<p>Guess what I'm tryin' to say is....of all the things I have ever done...this was one of them....<p>Can I get a round of applause from everybody and a moment of silence for the still missing GE... I hope he isn't listening to that chick he's doin'....

AsimovLives spells his that way...No _.<p>In fact, he gets very pissed off if anyone mispells his name. That's how Subs and I got to be friends. I was about to WAIL on AsimovLives and called him AssimovLives. Subs played international diplomat and Assimove soon left...<p>But, to answer your question....THAT WAS NOT ASMOVLIVES...

Not only is my experience ruined, you just KNOW Asi's going to take it as a personal insult.<P>After he single-handedly fucked the shit out of those Holocaust deniers' asses. He deserves better.<P>The Back-pedalback DESERVES better.<P>Laugh now and laugh hard, you FACKING S.O.B.!

I want to share my first posts here...really the reason I stuck around…<p>Nothing changes.…<p>by Cheeses_of_Nazareth Jul 27th, 200902:52:44 PM <p>Nothing really changes for batman at the end of TDK, except his public approval rating. He was always outside of the law. No one knows Bruce Wayne is Batman, so he gets to stay at the new mansion built on the site of the original, but with extra "safe rooms' and hidden exits, (or at least that's what he told the contractors). <p>And, Gordon doesn't need the batsignal to keep his relationship with Bats going. He has a cell phone, right? And Batman has the technology to actually SEE who is calling him on HIS cell phone.<p>These three villians…<p> Cheeses_of_Nazareth Jul 27th, 2009:13:14 PM<p> I see the Riddler as that guy who claimed to know who Batman really was, and with Bat's new notoriety, he blackmails Bruce Wayne. When Bruce refuses he starts dropping riddles into the media.
Penguin is the new crimelord who fills the gaps left by the Joker's decimation of the former criminal population of Gotham City. Oh, he is also a midget who dresses funny and carries trick umbrellas. <p>Bruce meets Catwoman at the local fetish shop and shares her passion for tight fitting leather and roof climbing.”<p>"I could have sword"?<p> Continentalop Jul 27th, 2009:24:26 PM<p> Fuck. I'm writing at a third grade level the last three days. <p>I guess I picked the wrong week to quiet sniffing glue…<p>"..quiet sniffing glue."<p> Cheeses_of_Nazareth Jul 27th, 2009:27:03 PM<p> Yeah, I sniff my glue quietly, too. <p>See Cheese?<p>Continentalop Jul 27th, 2009
04:28:47 PM <p>Fucking brain ain't working today. <p>So, wait a minute<p>
by Subtitles_Off Jul 27th, 2009:05:02:04 PM <p>Jason's parents were killed by Croc pre-Crisis? Who killed them post-Crisis? And, were they his adoptive parents? The dead ones? <p>And he was a circus kid? What is it with circuses and all the people getting killed there?<p>Batman on the batphone to the orphanage…<p>
by Cheeses_of_Nazareth Jul 27th, 2009:05:10:07 PM<p> "Yeah, call me if you get any kids whose parents like die anywhere in or near the big top. Got my number? Thanks..." <p><p><p>And from that moment on, there was only history to be made…

that I jumped on. I think it was prior to 'Lop and Asi and their long discussion about Dick Grayson, but I don't remember the topic.<P>Maybe I argued with Series7 about rubber muscles.<P>I'll have to research.<P>I know I wasn't one of the founders of the thread. I always come late to Nolanverse news because I care so little for it.

where someone first had the idea that Asimov "back-pedalling" on DAWSON'S TREK would be the perfect 10000th?<P>Well, as we were all freaking out this afternoon, thinking Asi had returned to us and blown our collective shit down the drain, Cobra sheepishly suggests how his mind was blown because he had predicted it to happen.<P>He was yanking the chain.

both the coke and the refresh times. I refresh almost constantly.
<p>
since you're building a case against cobra....have you noticed he never uses the post title bar?
<p>
what kind of sick fuck does that?

My ex was the same way...We'd come home from the Swingers club, she'd get laid and I got stuck with a Yeti and a limp pecker...<p>I WISH I could have watched while Batman spooged on her. At least that would be interesting to talk about.<p>Ask the Invisible man about that time he was fucking Wonder Woman and wound up having to have anal recontructive surgery...Which is extremely hard to do on invisible flesh...

Did you read the FIRST 10,000 posts at the Oldman Back Pedal site, node 41811 ?<p>Then, Shut the FUCK up...<p>You probably still think there's a reason for existence...<p>Existance is what you make of it...

I jumped on about 1 1/2 hours into this thing with this little gem:<P>The bomb squad just declared
by Subtitles_Off Jul 24th, 2009
03:36:51 PM<P>
"Um, we didn't even see the need to evacuate the convention center. As far as bombs go, this one's a bit of a dud."<P>
No script. No director. No commitment. Just an "I think" from an actor who was probably already on his seventh cocktail of the day.
<P>
Move along, people, nothing to see.

I am so GLAD you decided to chime in....<p>Guys, Goodfellows...and you know who I'm talking to...Give me the sign...K. This is our bar.<p>Boner, there's an almost unlimited virtual universe of web-sites and points of view out there for you to experience. From Asian Porn to Xenu prohesies...If you don't like what you read, move along...No need for hater negativity in this....I probably shouldn't say it...Dojo...

He probably...whoever he or her is, did not mean it as a personal assault against you....They prob'lly just read it all and thought it would be funny...I wish I'd thought of it, for Jebus' sake...<p>Unless, You and Kia have some history of which I am unaware of...

A pretty good one, too.<P>My anger is half-pretend and half-remourse for what might have been.<P>Cobra's alright. Although he did try and shut both me and diarrhea up with that "Quality not quantity" Balebacker condescension...GRIN.<P>But, that said, i don't like to be "got."<P>You're right I'm only assuming it was really Cobra. It really was convincing. Count the typos and grammatical errors.<P>Granted, it's hard to imagine Asi actually back-pedalling on anything, let alone DAWSON'S TREK, but I thought that was him pulling a joke on himself.<P>I know the kid is hard to type to sometimes because he's so obstinately opinionated, but I like him. I wanted to think he had the sense of humor to plan something like that.

"Over-reacted."<p>Happens everyday...<p>As for being at the 10,000...I wanted the build up to the summit to include first posts and favorite posts by other posters. Best jokes...Like the 'Super/Invisi/Wonder threeway...<p>Always a crowd pleaser...<p>And, yes, 5...

goddamn harry, i thought the guy from new york post was pushing credibility by criticising district 9 for not being enough like 8 legged freaks and shaun of the dead (WTF?) but this review is possibly the worst thing i've ever read.

By King Vidor. First in his "trilogy" about America (followed by OUR DAILY BREAD and AMERICAN ROMANCE) and the best of them. Was made before the depression but came out right after the stock crash if I remember right so it didn't do good at the BO. But a great movie (one of the shots was swiped by Wilder for THE APARTMENT).

By Sergie Eisenstein. Subs already mentioned the baby carriage on the Odessa steps, I am going to mention the assume montage editing where they cut from machine guns to a bleeding woman's head. One of the movies that created the foundation for the idea of editing.

By Todd Browning and starring Lon Chaney Sr in one of the most whacked out films ever. Quick recap: Lon is an armless knife thrower (you read that right) for a circus who falls for a Joan Crawford (yes!), the daughter of the circus owner who can't stand for men to touch her. The thing is that Lon REALLY does have arms, he is in disguise because he is a wanted criminal, but decides to have them amputated because that is how much he loves Joan, <P>
Of course, things don't go as fucking planned.

F.W. Murnau's fucking master piece and one of my all-time favorite movies. The thing is incredible and I rank it up there with CITIZEN KANE, THE BICYCLE THIEF and BREATHLESS for influence on cinema. And if you don't fall in love with Janet Gaynor you are a heartless bastard. <P>
Side note: I once took a gf to see this in 1997 I think at the Silent Movie Theatre in LA. Unfortunately we never saw the film because the owner was murdered and the cashier was shot during a "hold up". It turned out to be a murder for hire by the projectionist, who was the owner's gay lover. Look it up on the internet, it is like a real life film noir.

By Federico Fellini. Starring his wife, Giulietta Masina, Anthony Quinn as a strong man, and Richard Basehart as a acrobat/clown. Some people prefer Fellini's wilder, surrealistic movies, I prefer his earlier neorealism work like this and....

Had to look the title up for this one. It is by Rosselinni and stars De Sica as a petty thief who has to impersonate an Italian Resistance leader. Technically I don't know if this is a neorealism movie but fuck it, it is on my list. <P>

De Sica masterpiece and one of the greatest movies ever made. Favorite part: at the end when the father tries to steal a bike and the camera uses a tracking shot to follow the sons scared and ashamed expression as he watches his father pathetically try to escape.

But that is going to be hard for me because it is probably my favorite movement, along with the New Hollywood movement. I think maybe I will go to bed and if I have energy I will do my favorite 20 or 25 film noirs. Maybe.

Not familiar with that movie - will give it a look see.<P>
I AM familiar, however, with the end tgo GREEDY, a very under-rated movie starring Michael J Fox and Nancy Travis. Fox is a member of a family who are all (except for Fox) money-crazy and waiting for the patriarch of the family (a brilliant Kirk Douglas) to die so they can get their hands on his loot. One day, word gets around the family that Kirk Douglas wants to see them all. He announces he's sick, doing downhill fast, and needs to be looked after by the family. Fox initially doesn't want to participate (this is the reason why he left the family to do his own thing in the first place) but gets sucked into the whole thing, initally almost losing his integrity but warming to this grumpy old bastard who he never really liked before. By the time the movie is drawing to a close, Douglas is in a wheelchair, destitute, and Fox is the only guy who will look after him. There is no money...<P>
And then the ending happens. The last scene with Kirk Douglas had me laughing til I nearly threw up. A fantastic ending to a very, very funny film.<P>
Yeah, I though you meant THAT "GREEDY", not "GREED"...

and something awful happened. <P>I forgot what AICN was like and got caught up in it. <P>Will you guys forgive me? <P>Cheeses, man, your torchlight shone the way home. Is love too strong a word?<P>Had to escape over the weekend...bad vibes...everythings good now.

This is the daily recap. It is written through tears of pride mixed with tears of anger (more on that later). It is okay for a grown man to cry. Don't you judge me!<P>
First, an explanation, for the new and curious, who stumble upon us wondering why the fuck we are in a Talkback about ARMAGEDDON in the year 2009, forcing many to relive a terrible, traumatizing cinematic incident. Well, you might have heard about a little project called The Back-pedalback which began here at AICN on the afternoon of July 24th and passed the 10000-post barrier on August 17th. This ancient TB, Harry's unreadable review of a ten-year-old Michael Bay fuckfest, has been revived in order to serve as the meeting place for committed Back-pedalers, the holding cell, if you will, until we can be placed in our new cages at an upgraded Nolanverse Batman asylum thread. (Is Christian Bale gonna have to choke a bitch?) For the last couple of days over at “Node 41811,” I had re-capped the brilliant, profane, sometimes pornographic, most often drunken ramblings of the crazy bastards who would work the night shift. The re-cap grew to include the entire day.<P>
Yesterday was a BIG day for us, so it deserves a BIG re-cap. May be my last, I am too angry to decide right now (more on that later).<P>
We began the day as savagedave finished his live-blog of FRANKENFISH. This is savage's third live-blog. He watches a glorious, gloriously bad, B-movie schlocker involving rampaging monsters and buxom female assistants, and posts his concurrent observations. I hope these live-blogs continue. AICN could do a lot worse than dumping Script Girl and giving savage a weekly article.<P>
The lists from EMPIRE magazine's 1001 Greatest Movie Moments ended with The 20 Greatest of The Greatest. Stabby thought the list needed to be improved, so he offered his own. Though no such list could ever exist that would be definitive, I'm willing to give Stabby this one, simply because he included the “harem dream” sequence from Fellini's “8 ½,” and that is truly brilliant.<P>
Finky and Mel returned after a few days away in time to join the countdown to 10K and experience The Great Flood of Personal Lists. Sub's (that's me) Favorite Fantasy Films. Sub's Favorite Heebie-Jeebie Films. 'Lop's (Mr. Continentalop, to you newbs) Heebie-Jeebies. Sub's Films From Great Film-makers. water_shit_anderson's Favorite Music Moments in Film. Cobra—Kai added some heebie-jeebies of his own, and savagedave pointed out that Sydney Greenstreet of THE MALTESE FALCON would be his pick for Best Thing Ever.<P>
Anticipation began to build for 10K at around 12:30 p.m., site-time. Present, not including lurkers who may or may not have been present to gawk, Series7, Six Demon Bag, DVader, Cobra—Kai, anonymoose, Youngdog, Stabby, water_shit_anderson, savagedave, 'Lop, Dr.Morbius, spud mcspud, Asimov_Lives, and myself. Of these persons, it must be known: Series7 is okay with Batman's most recent rubber-muscle suit. Six Demon Bag prefers Michael Jackson to Fleetwood Mac. DVader is a talented maker of short films, one of which can be seen @
http://tinyurl.com/owdavl.
Cobra—Kai is a veteran of the legendary Baleback, which broke 10K way-back-when and inspired us to do the same, and he has a thing for water_shit's wife. anonymoose is sensitive and has a lovely singing voice. Youngdog is smarter than I am (more on that later). Stabby and DrMorbius are to my mind, the co-owners of The Back-pedalback. water_shit_anderson is a beat poet, a rat-catcher, and husband of a much-coveted hottie who has also driven superheroes to distraction. 'Lop is the most knowledgeable person, regarding film, you are likely to ever meet. spud mcspud is a mystery – he posts infrequently, but he posts zingers. Asimov_Lives...(more on that later).<P>A flurry of posts, and a tally counter that would not co-operate, led all present to assume we had broken the 10K barrier anywhere between 1:46:37 and 2:00:21 p.m., and that we killed The Back-pedalback at 2:25:18 p.m. The official truth can be determined, now that The Back-pedalback is ONCE AGAIN functioning (for how long, one can only guess). Using Series7's post this morning @ 09:02:59 as post #10079 and counting backward, you will find the official 10000th post at 2:04:25 p.m. By Six Demon Bag “fuck I forgot about AVATAR tickets.”<P>Fucking AVATAR. God-damn, THAT pisses me off!! <P>Magic happened @ 2:06:51 p.m., or it didn't (more on that later), when Asimov_Lives posted what seemed to be the Ultimate Back-pedal – a retraction of his months of venom spewed toward J.J Abram's STAR TREK re-boot. All present reacted with much celebration and congratulation at the triumphant return of AsimovLives who had disappeared from The Back-pedalback back around 5000 posts or-so. Only Youngdog, apparently, realized, at the time, what I would not find out until ten hours later when Cheeses_of_Nazareth would point out an underscore to me: WE WERE PUNKED!!!! PUNKED BY AN IMPOSTER!!! SOME ASHTON-KUNTCHER WANNABE MADE A FOOL OF ME!!! (This is that later part, I've been hinting at). YEAH, YEAH!!!! FUNNY FACKING JOKE, YOU TOOL!!! TURN ALL OF OUR JOY INTO CYNICAL PISS-STAINED DISAPPOINTMENT, WHY DONTCHA?!!! FACK, FACK, FACK!!!! I'M BLIND WITH RAGE AND IMPOTENT WITH, WELL, OK, NOT IMPOTENT REALLY, MORE LIKE, INARTICULATE!!!! YEAH!!!! I'LL JUST TYPE FACK AGAIN!!!<P>Seriously good burn. I only hope the true wicked bastard stands up to take credit. Everyone should know, I have officially accused Cobra—Kai. I also hope, with all sincerity, that the true AsimovLives does not get offended when he hears the scuttlebutt. Whatever one might think of his stubbornness, the kid's Aces in my book, he contributed mightily to the first half of our project, he single-handedly takes on Holocaust deniers and pricks on a regular basis, he has the balls to defend his own opinion when he's outnumbered, and he is welcome back to The Back-pedalback any time he wants to re-join it. The wonderful burn post, with all of its convincing grammar and spelling mistakes was certainly intended as a play on the idea of back-pedalling and NOT as a personal insult to Asi. Or, so better be the case, LEST MY VENGEANCE BLOT OUT THE SUN!!!<P>Node 41811 continued – continues to collect posts – but there was a delay (imposed) yesterday while many of the posts waited in limbo.<P>According to plan, many of us have migrated, here, to Node 1631, hoping our brethren will join us.<P>Disco_Sucks resumed our love of lists with his Favourite Action Moments. I listed my Favorites, because I spell it the American way.<P>Greatest Film Endings by 'Lop.<P>water_shit_anderson talked mashed potatoes and rat dicks. That was weird.<P>'Lop has never seen ARMAGEDDON and neither have I. Sound off all you loyal Back-pedalers! Who has not seen ARMAGEDDON?<P>GetEveryone is alive but was trapped in limbo.<P>Cheeses supplied the blow and Guinness for the Night Shift's After-party. He re-posted his first series of posts from July 27th, and I found my Secret Origin. I have assigned homework for all loyal Back-pedalers: find the first post you made to The Back-pedalback and re-post it, here, in Node 1631.<P>Cheeses went on a solo coke binge. Hope he's ok.<P>'Lop's Favorite Silent Movies and Ten Favorite Italian Neo-realist Films. Again, I must say, damn, 'Lop knows his movies. He promises to share a list of his favorite Noir Films. It'll be like film school, only more fun and no essays. I plan to add every film he mentions to my Netflix queue if I haven't seen it.<P>Names have been suggested for this stop-gap to Back-pedalback Version 2.0. They are ArmaNEVAHgeddon2HoursBack-back, Armageddonouttahereback, and MichaelBayDropsaBomb-back. Cumbersome, I know. We could just remain Back-pedalback Version 1.1. Suggestions?<P>10640th, bitches!

you stay over there, you will need to provide re-caps of Node 41811 over here in Node 1631. I can't possibly keep up with both.<P>For the record, I'm behind pushing 41811 to its breaking point. I'll post there ocassionally, and I encourage those who can stand the bandwidth to do the same. I'll probably do most of my posting over here, though.<P>We should try to get htese whores to #1 and #2 on the Top Ten at least once, though. That would be cool.<P>I'm watching the tally-counter continue to rise over there with glee and a bit of pride.

i wasn't as up to speed on the AsimovLives dawsons trek storyline as the rest of you. But i was interested to see if it ended up being real or not once i became informed.
<p>
I'll probably be going back and forth between the two. I'm tempted to go over there now...we only need a few posts to get ahead of d9 in pedalback as well.
<p>

It needs to be said. We have not been censured. Never censored. Not even once have we been “black-boxed.” I think that is a credit to Harry's site.<P>If yesterday's “limbo period” was imposed, it was for our own good, to prevent a stampede of gawkers and newbies posting nonsense. <P>Bravo!

At least it's on day one.
Anyone looking for Comic Con Booth Babes
by Stabby Jul 24th, 2009
02:43:09 PM
http://tinyurl.com/nofnu6 I am not associated with that web site in any way. Just sharing the love.

my "enthusiasm" theory. Harry means what he says at the time, but it is swayed by his enthusiasm and his biases toward any given project. That's why his reviews, while not dishonest, are completely useless.<P>He's like the giggling school-girl who is flattered by the campus jock's flirtations, who later refuses to admit the worthless galoop date-raped her and had a very small, clumsy penis.

their mind. Sometimes, your tastes mature or you get educated or the facts change. Roger Ebert eventually backpedaled on Blue Velvet and now lists it among the best movies of the 80s and rightly so. He even did the commentary for the DVD.

Series HATED me when I first showed up.<P>Conti is The Professor. Continual respect.<P>You and Morbs always kept up the enthusiasm when no one else was in the room. Cheeses and, later, water_shit would do that in the wee hours.<P>The Mad Brits showed up and tore the roof off the sucker.<P>And I typed "fuck" a lot.

Really Subs? I don't mind - honest. I didn't expect it to be noticed that quickly as everyone is (deservedly) still caught up in the celebratory mood.<P>Luckily, being English, I know to treat such achievments as the transient and inconsequential imposters that they are. For my contribution to wiped clean out of history in the blink of an eye is no reason to be angry. I would have liked to have made it on to the PDF, I really would, but I have to believe that getting angry or dickish about it would take me further away from being the person I want to be - I have a new job waiting in Singapore, a woman who loves me and a cold beer in my hand. From where I'm sitting that's reason enough to be happy.<P>As Yoda said about the dead - mourn them do not, miss them do not. Though he did get his arse kicked by The Emporer and has a mailing address of 'Hovel 1, The Swamp, Dagobah' so maybe we shouldn't pay too much attention to what the little green fella has to say<P>I haven't decided yet whether to post here again and for two pins I might never even visit again. The wound that hurts the most is usually delivered by the fondest blade.

You have mitorilla ultimately to thank for that name. That was what he posted to the DeathRace talkback that Vern called him out for. I thought it was funny so I reposted it to pedalback and that started the Paul Wasted Sperm Anderson thread.

..friggin idea - oh, except the 90 posts it took to get this TB back in the top 10 and POSSIBLY posting copyrighted song lyrics that are freely abvailable anywhere else on the web. If it isn't that then I genuinely have no clue why the banhammer fell.

That.<P>Just.<P>Fucking.<P>Hurts.<P>If I am banned again, my brothers, I will not return. All of moviemack's work will be for naught.<P>The PDF is useless to me now, Stabs. Too many hurtful ommissions.

MOVIEMACK? Say it ain't so! I used to read those ol' to-and-fro's as a pup. If that IS you I would like to point out to the virgins here that you are in the presence of a bona fida Talkback LEGEND! <P>I used to think you were a crazy bastard back then and I can see you haven't changed. Which is a good thing.

And the Nolan-philes got me banned.<P>Turns out, though, everything I ever posted was opinion based on what turned out to be actual fact. And, when I returned, it was almost commonplace for people to be posted stuff about BEGINS worse than anything I ever muttered.<P>Now, you know, why, no matter what, I will always take Asimov's side in a battle with Mr. Nice Gaius. Always. No. Matter. What.<P>I was right. I never lied about Nolan's plans or Goyer's script. You can disagree with my assessment, if you want, but you cannot accuse me of EVER being an uninformed troll.

was, again, under a handle I honestly can't recall.<P>I called Bryan Singer gay. He is gay.<P>Have you ever seen a thread devoted to Bryan Singer or SUPERMAN RETURNS without the word "gay" repeated over and over, ad nauseum?

As I said, moviemack criticized the script for BEGINS, a year in advance of it being released, based solely on things in the script that actually ended up in the movie.<P>I KNEW what I was talking about.

You sir, are a TBer of the highest order. I am outraged at your banishment, but like a true PHOENIX, you have risen from the ashes. I sincerely hope you continue your postings. AICN has diminished, in my eyes, for it's action. CHEERS MATE!

and I can see where weak minds would consider I was targeting them personally. I try to be kinder, these days.<P>Firmly believe, though, it's the internet. If you ain't got a pair, you better grow one. This web thing was promised as a free exchange of information and ideas. The Clamp-downers who want to claim a piece of it and make up their own rules to exclude people from thier precious sandbox are the villains.<P>Don't put a Talkback up and then throw a hissy when somebody talks back.

..thanks chaps - it's like finding out I wasn't the only one to get fishy fingers from Slaggy Sarah.<P>I can swallow my shame, recognise the achievement and move on with my life. No more racking my brain wondering why it had to happen to me.<P>It's a numbers game and THEIR problem - not mine.

for the man George used to be.<P>And a moment of wonder due the man he will become.<P>And an endless amount of respect and gratitude for your contributions to Our Glorious Experiment.<P>[swigs a beer and pours some on the ground, just like the gangstas used to do in the daze when it was real]

i had to do it. when i first heard the news back in Aug 2008 i was in shock and i stayed in denial. then i vented my frustrations against BSG fans even though in retrospect they had nothing to do with the cancellation. shoulda accepted the realty and paid my respects then. instead all i was doing was promoting an upcoming show that was in a direct way responsible for SGA's cancellation. having realized that recently with a month left before it airs, it dawned on me that i will not be able to enjoy Stargate Universe until i say farewell to my one true love. so i can move one with my life.

pulling his pud but he has a point - there's nothing to stop us taking AICN four dimensional from now on.<P>If anyone fancies hooking up beyond prying eyes they just post the talkback ID in one of the top 10 TB's and we'll see them there. Keep the counts low and move often and no-ones the wiser.<P>And thanks DrM but to quote the Cobra himself - Youngdog doesn't exist in this dojo<P>My<P>Name <P>Is<P>Mr <Br>George<Br>Kaplan

that the Back-pedalback has become. From the highest of highs yesterday to the plummet when I learned I'd been punked, to the slight return when I saw 41811 lurching back to life, through the saddest realization of all. At least one of our comrades, perhaps more, fell and languished while we celebrated.<P>I'd gladly it be Sunday all over and again, full of giddy anticipation and ignorant of the horror to come.

..we don't know exactly how difficult to pitch the clues and how quick we'll be to work out the breadcrumbs.<P>If only there was some subject matter or topic that we were all interested in but wouldn't look out of place on a this website.....

Breadcrumbs can be posted in any Nolanverse thread from now on. Any Oldman thread. Any Bale thread. Any Batman thread except an A$$holes comics thread.<P>Those threads belong to us, anyway. Somebody posts a Node # there,one or more of us is bound to follow.

Put their handle in the subject line, and a Node# or a Node# with a date and time, even, in the comment section.<P>If that person has missed you, they'll leave another breadcrumb there for you to find.<P>Eventually, you'll catch up.

They're gonna pick us off one-by-one.<P>I wish we could create a site that we could claim as our own. One where we could go to talk about movies and engage strangers with witty conversation.<P>Why doesn't a site like that exist in the world?

..in the Roth TB.<P>It was painful - all I wanted to do was jump in and back him up but I had stupidly tried to register as used_to_be_Youngdog and the mods wouldn't Ok my account.<P>I hope he comes back..

After that collapsed some of our number went nuts - ArcadianDS and Kurzinski Valentine in a most spectacular way - and got banned. I think after the excitement and thrill of breaking 10,000 GE just got wired up and looking for a little excitement and ended up facing a dick with a banhammer. Lesson learned. <P>
But that might explain why we can post in the pedalback. I'm thinking AICN has changed the way they tally total post - when they used to delete your post they would also lower the tally by that many, I don't think they do that anymore. GE and Young Dog probably had a shit load of post in the TB, so we probably got another 100-300 post to play with again. At least that is my theory.

GE complained about Harry giving away the ending - HeadGeek appeared Black Box and all and told him spoiler warnings had been given.<P>GE protested as to the magnitude of the spoilers and the minescule size of the warning (and lo and behold a spoiler warning appeared on the fron page)

I wandered out of here into some of the other TBs looking for Twitch. Fuck. Not going to do that again. <P>
I seriously don't know if I can handle this site. Way to many people who should be wearing helmets when they walk around in this place.

Agreed. I stepped out for an afternoon and was met with a wall of shit.<P>Then the banhammer.<P>Is it the Pedalback then? I say we at least touch up on the one we aren't calling the main residence just to keep it up there.

I saw you in the Beaks TB - not nice to watch you getting shafted from afar TWICE today without being able to help.<P>But I don't think it was Beaks who banhammered you - he just gave a guy a warning and deleted a post for calling Eli Roth a 'Faggot'<P>I remember you quipped about the word 'Faggot' - I don't know if anyone knows outside the UK that they are little tripe meatballs in our country.

Is the absolute dickishness of all the other TBers. <P>
Look, I hate Eli Roth and QTs latest films. Hate 'em. But I am not going to call you a cumguzzler and a fucking idiot if you like them. Each their own. But stepping outside I had to have people throw around stuff like anybody who doesn't like Eli Roth is just jealous and wonder what type of guy wouldn't want to see Nazis get scalped? <p>
Um, me dickhead.

it will be there until lateer this afternoon, when, I too, am youngdogged, and it reads:<P>for The Back-pedalback, The Glory of Bale, for The Memory of Nixon, and The Ghost of McCarthy, and, now, adding colour, a Group of anonymoose Latin American Meat-packing Glitterati, in honor of my homies, Youngdog and GetEveryone who were unjustly banhammered on This Day of Bale, Tuesday, August 18th, 2009.

im DioxholsterUnbound now. dioxholster died an honorable death. then he ascended and after a few days he came back as DioxholsterUnbound with all the knowledge of the universe with him. but yeah i would really like my original name back.

The Back-peadlback will not long allow us to back-peadal there.<P>Yet, I worry that we have a very large target on our heads here, and we may have said things that will bite us in the ass.<P>What say we claim Node 42071 at 224 posts?<P>Agreed?

..no eyeball raping here. <P>Instead they were taken to a suitably salubrious coctail bar, seduced by lashings of vodka cocktails, fine wine and the jangling of Porsche 911 car-keys before being taken back to a city Welcome Inn and bounced on until dawn and finally waking up in a sweaty cum-stained mess with only a £10-note, half a pack of Mayfair and some hitherto unexperienced new form of vinereal disease to show for it.

Considering two of our best comrades were banhammered today, and we have discussed it openly here, plus, the fact that the reappearance of a ten-yr-old thread in the Top Ten is akin to jumping up and shouting "Satan is my lover!" in church, I suggested a temporary detour to 42071.<P>At least until the dust settles.

You know how the space stuff has quite lame physics, with gravity on the space station? Well I think they originally wanted to do it Apollo 13 style in the zero-G vomit comet. Only problem was, Bruce Willis couldn't pass the medical! Oh Bruce.....

BC I haven't heard any ReelBigFish on anything but my iPod in years. Or when I watch Clueless. <p> Must be playing "Knock on Wood", eh? Or "Sell Out"? I always liked "Beer" myself, and their cover of A-Ha's "Take On Me".

It was 'Sell-Out'. I always liked 'Down in Flames', off their second album. Very Blue Beetle-y song. Or '241', the instrumental off their first album. One of their shows, they opened with it and I skanked to beat the band. Ended up with a vicious summer cold afterwards, but wtf.

any suggestions for guidelines I should follow?
<p>
are we not trying to attract too much attention in there? Do I keep it cool...do i go apeshit?
<p>
I am a soldier in the pedalback army...i will do what needs to be done.